Ledger or guard plate device for agricultural machines



Feb- 15 1932- E scHooNEvELD l 1,844,984

LEDGR OR GUARD PLATE DEVICE FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed Dec. 8, 1928 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 vUNITED srrfS 'PATENT oFFlce EVERT SL'IIOONEVELD,y OF CHICAGO, ILLIKINOIS, ASSIGNOR'TO THE WHITAKER-MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGQILLNOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS LEDGER on. GUARD PLATE nevica ron- Ac-R-rcUL'ruRAL MACHINES Application led December 8, 1928. Serial No. 324,758.

The present invention relates to agricultural machines or the like and more particularly to the guardy means ofthe vcuttingmechanisms of an agricultural machine.:

Among the objects of the inventionris to provide a novel ledger or guard plate device wherein a plate of relatively harder metal than the guard may be used and easily inserted in place, and ras easily removed, and

c without using any securing'means, suchas bolts, screws, rivets or the like, to hold the plate in place, and also meanswherebyit will be impossible for the plate to work looseor to dropout, by having an end of the plate extend s through an `opening in the guard and abut against a fixed part of thek machine when the guard is secured in place on the machine.

Other objects, advantages,capabilities and features are c'omprehended `bythe invention -u as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a fragmentary part of a device embodying the invention,

' with parts shown in broken section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken in a plane represented by line 2-2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken 1n a plane shown by line 3 3 in Fig. 2 of the drawings;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a ledger plate used in the invention; and

Figure 5 isa cross sectional view on the line 5-5, Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. K

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustratey the invention is shown in connection with a frame member 1, which may be of angle bar formation, this frame member usually being part of the cutter mechanism, and also part of the means for feeding thecut material from the Y cutting mechanism. The member 1 has adepending flange 2 against the forward surface of which contacts a guard device 3 having a plurality of guard lingers 4, the guard device having a body portion 5, and a base portion 0r flange 6, provided with suitable apertures '50 for the passage therethrough of bolts 7, also passing through corresponding apertures in the flange 2 ofthe frame member 1. These bolts are for the purpose of securing the guard to the front face of the frame member 1.

The guard member body 5, there being one for each finger 4, is provided on its upper side with a seat 8, upon which may rest a plate 9, this being a ledger plate of metal having harder and tougher characteristics than the material of the guard itself. If desired, a groove 10 may be provided in the seat, but this may not be essential. Above the plate 9 is disposed a sickle member 11 adaptedl to slide over thefle'dger plates 9, and beneath an over-v hanging portion 12 forming an integral part of the linger 4 and body 5 and acting asa guide for the reciprocation of the sickle mehr ber 11. The latter may be operatedbyany suitablev mechanism carried by the frame of the machine. 7

i The ledger plate shown in detail in Fig. 4 is preferably made of flat met-a1, such as steel and other similar materials, and is yprovided at one end witha yreduced extension or tongue 13 and-at'the other end has a tail portion 14 and intermediate the ends of the plate is providedan'aperture l15. The tongue 18 is adapt-ed to extend into a recess 16 formed-iii the forward partof the body 5 "of the guard and `at an end oftheseat 8 and below the overhanging guide 12. At the other endof the guard, the base portionG ofthe guard is provided .with an aperture (for yeach plate) or opening 17, having a cross sectional form exactly that of the tail piece 14 of the'plate.

The platey is of such ashape that it may be introduced through this opening 17 so that the'plate will rest upon the seat 8 and have itspro'jection 13 vextending in the recess 16 and its tail or heel 14 located in the opening 17 and with the back end 18Vof the plate 9, flush with'the back'surface of the' base member 6. lVhen so positioned, itwill be apparent that the back ends 1S of the plates 9 will all abut yagainst the front face of the part 2 Aof the frame member 1, when the guard is bolted thereto. In this way it will be impossiblefor the plates to be removed from; the guard, unless the guard be unbolted from the frame. The recess 16 and the open- 100 ing 17 are arranged so that they are just over the seat 8, whereby when the plate 9 is in place with the projection 13 in the recess 16 and the tail or heel 14 in the aperture 17, the plate 9 will rest upon the seat 8.

When assembling, the plates 9 are inserted through the apertures 17, and slid over the seat 8 until the projection 13 extends into the recess 16. The guard is then bolted to the frame member by means of the bolts 7 When so bolted, the back end 18 of the plates 9 abutagainst the front face of the member 1, thus locking the plates in place so that they cannot Work loose or be removed until the guard be unbolted from the frame. The sickle bar may then be located in place above the plates 9. The sickle bar 11 slides on the plate 9, the sickle bar having cutting blades, cooperating with the plate or blade 9, as the stationary shearing element or elements of the cutting mechanism.

When it is desired to replace any of the plates 9, the operator will unbolt the guard from the frame, and With a suitable tool inserted in the aperture 15, will force the blade 9 longitudinally backward through the opening 17 so as to retract the projection 13 from the recess 16 and cause the tail 14 of the plates to be projected out of the aperture 17. The plates may then be easily removed by hand and another plate inserted in place as above described.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, details arrangements of parts and features without de arting from the spirit thereof.

aving thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A guard of the character described comprising a body member having a base portion and a ledger-plate seat, said base portion having an opening extended through the wall thereof, and a ledger plate resting on said seat and having an end projecting through and fitting within said opening.

2. A guard of the character described comprisin a body member having a base portion and a idger-plate seat, said base portion having an opening extended through the Wall thereof in alignment With said seat, said body member having a recess also in alignment with said seat and spaced from said slot, and a ledger plate resting on said seat and having one end engaging said recess and the other end fitting Within said opening.

3. A guard of the character described comprising a body member having a base portion and a ledger-plate seat extending forwardly from said base portion, said base portion having an opening extended through the Wall thereof in alignment with said seat, said body member also having a recess in alignment with said seat and contiguous to the forward end thereof, and a ledger plate resting on said seat, said ledger-plate having a reduced portion at one end ext-ended into said recess, and having its rear end projecting through and fitting Within said opening.

4. The combination with a frame member having a depending flange, of a guard-bodymember having a base portion secured to said flange, said body member having a ledger plate seat, said base portion having an opening extending through the wall thereof, and a edger-plate resting on said seat and having an end projected through and fitting yyithin said opening, said end abutting said ange.

5. The combination with a frame member of an agricultural machine, of a guard member having a base portion secured to said frame member and also having a ledger-plate seat, said base portion having an opening exw tended through the wall thereof in alignment With said seat, said body member also having a recess at the forward end of said seat and in alignment therewith, and a ledger plate resting on said seat and having its forward end engaging said recess and its rear end projecting through and fitting Within said opening, said rear end of the led er plate abutting against said frame memer While the base portion is secured thereto.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

EVERT SCHOONEVELD. 

